#https://www.mona.uwi.edu/healthcentre/counsellingunit/staff/dr-patricia-prescott

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COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL

Competency to stand trial looks at the idea that some persons just could not make the rational decision to commit the crime.  This has caused individuals to attempt to delay justice by making an insanity plea. 

In a recent sit down with Dr Patricia Prescott forensic psychologist in Jamaica we spoke about the issue of competency to stand trial .  

The issue of a defendant’s competence may be raised at any point in the proceedings before a verdict is rendered; thus, competency to confess (waive Miranda rights), competency to plead guilty, competency to waive the right to counsel, and competency to stand trial all fall under the umbrella of adjudicative competence or competency to proceed.

Dr Prescott  spoke about the process of undertaking this issue. She highlighted that if an individual is deemed incompetent to stand trial then an evaluation is done and treatment administered to fix the issue of competency , they are then re-evaluated to test their fitness and then put through the justice system.

Further information can be found in the links below.

 https://youtu.be/45F1MJJuSP4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOKGS-XuFqk